of the cellar door at the end of the room. "Would you like to see? Come
down; I'll show you."

She went before him down into the cool obscurity underneath, redolent
of new cheese and fresh butter. Annixter followed, a certain excitement
beginning to gain upon him. He was almost sure now that Hilma wanted him
to kiss her. At all events, one could but try. But, as yet, he was not
absolutely sure. Suppose he had been mistaken in her; suppose she should
consider herself insulted and freeze him with an icy stare. Annixter
winced at the very thought of it. Better let the whole business go, and
get to work. He was wasting half the morning. Yet, if she DID want to
give him the opportunity of kissing her, and he failed to take advantage
of it, what a ninny she would think him; she would despise him for being
afraid. He afraid! He, Annixter, afraid of a fool, feemale girl. Why,
he owed it to himself as a man to go as far as he could. He told himself
that that goat Osterman would have kissed Hilma Tree weeks ago. To test
his state of mind, he imagined himself as having decided to kiss her,
after all, and at once was surprised to experience a poignant qualm of
excitement, his heart beating heavily, his breath coming short. At the
same time, his courage remained with him. He was not afraid to try. He
felt a greater respect for himself because of this. His self-assurance
hardened within him, and as Hilma turned to him, asking him to taste
a cut from one of the ripe cheeses, he suddenly stepped close to her,
throwing an arm about her shoulders, advancing his head.

But at the last second, he bungled, hesitated; Hilma shrank from him,
supple as a young reed; Annixter clutched harshly at her arm, and trod
his full weight upon one of her slender feet, his cheek and chin barely
touching the delicate pink lobe of one of her ears, his lips brushing
merely a fold of her shirt waist between neck and shoulder. The thing
was a failure, and at once he realised that nothing had been further
from Hilma's mind than the idea of his kissing her.

She started back from him abruptly, her hands nervously clasped against
her breast, drawing in her breath sharply and holding it with a little,
tremulous catch of the throat that sent a quivering vibration the length
of her smooth, white neck. Her eyes opened wide with a childlike look,
more of astonishment than anger. She was surprised, out of all measure,
discountenanced, taken all aback, and when she f